, thanks for your great work on the board of directors!

Thanks so much for your support of the BC Cycling Coalition and cycling in BC.

The BC Cycling Coalition is your voice for great bike routes everywhere. We are working hard to enable everyone to bike everyday while eliminating fatalities. Please show your support by signing the Billion for Bikes petition.

Good news! The recommendations of BC Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services include exempting e-bikes from the PST. This was among the recommendations the BC Cycling Coalition presented to the Committee in September.

Of note, this was the only recommendation the Committee made regarding the PST. The report has been sent to the Legislature who will likely approve the new budget in the Spring.

Currently in B.C. bicycles and transportation fares are exempt from PST charges, and clean energy vehicles (cars) are eligible for rebates up to $5,000. Purchases of new electric bicycles, and their electric parts, are charged PST, and are not eligible for rebates. Something doesn’t seem right here, does it?

For small business owners however, this detail feels rather significant. "It's really quite a hassle." Says Paul Dragan of Reckless Bikes. "When repairing an electric bike, we have to charge PST on the electric parts like the battery and motor while there is no PST on the bike parts like wheels and brakes.". Creating two separate lines, and a once unnecessary step to small business’s financial records, is cumbersome and aggravating.

Take Action

Along with lending your voice, monetary support is immensely appreciated. The BC Cycling Coalition's ability to push for change is fueled by generous contributions from folks like yourself. A sincere thank you to those who have already donated.

3. Write the Finance Minister and Your MLA

Please write the Hon. Michael de Jong and your MLA. Let them know what removing the PST on and providing rebates for electric bikes and greatly improved cycling would mean for your family and community.

Good news! The BC Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services recommendations include increasing investment in cycling and walking. The BC Cycling Coalition presented our recommendations including investing $1 billion over 10 years in cycling and walking to the Committee in September.

This recommendation is arguably stronger than last year's recommendation (page 53) as it supports increased investment in active transportation not just investment which may not imply an increase.

Thanks to everyone who make submissions or completed the survey. Much appreciated! The report states:

Active transportation also emerged as a recurring theme within the online survey, with many respondents proposing active transportation (as well as transit) related recommendations under the “other” options.

Providing appropriate and safe infrastructure to facilitate and encourage cycling and walking gives British Columbians access to practical, affordable and alternative means of getting around. Proponents pointed to the economic, social and public health benefits of increasing investment in active transportation through reduced congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, improved physical and mental health, and improved overall quality of life. A number of submissions also referenced the economic opportunities of attracting visitors to the province through cycling tourism.

The British Columbia Cycling Coalition (BCCC) and the BC Healthy Living Alliance (BCHLA) reiterated their suggestion from previous years for the development of a comprehensive Active Transportation Strategy. The BCCC emphasized the need for a multi-modal transportation system for all ages and abilities, while the BCHLA focused on designing communities to support activity in children and families. Both organizations also supported cycling education to improve safety and decrease conflicts between road users.

The report has been sent to the Legislature who will likely approve the new budget in the Spring.

Take Action

Along with lending your voice, monetary support is immensely appreciated. The BC Cycling Coalition's ability to push for change is fueled by generous contributions from folks like yourself. A sincere thank you to those who have already donated.

3. Write Premier and Your MLA

Please Premier Clark know that you want dramatic increased investment in cycling. We are recommending $1 billion over ten years. Let them know what greatly improved cycling would mean for your family and community.

MP Gord Johns (Courtenay-Alberni) and Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie) introduced a private member's bill to establish a National Cycling Strategy on October 4. The BC Cycling Coalition strongly supports a national strategy where the Federal Government works with the provinces and municipalities to enable all Canadians to safety cycle.

A Canadian Cycling Strategy will:

Commit the federal government to set clear targets for the expansion of cycling friendly infrastructure;

Encourage more Canadians to choose cycling as their mode of transportation;

Improve national safety standard measures, such as side guard rails for trucks;

Support the cycling industry in Canada;

Increase education for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists.

“We need to do more to make Canada a cycling nation,” said Johns who has biked to work on Parliament Hill every day since being elected. “It’s time for a national plan to get more Canadians using this low cost, environmentally friendly, and healthy mode of transportation.”

Many other OECD countries have already adopted cycling strategies and have seen a significant increase in cycling as a result. Canada lags behind in many cycling indicators, including the number of children who cycle to school which remains at 2%. Whereas in Germany, 15% of children cycle to school, and in the Netherlands 50% of children cycle to school.

A National Cycling Strategy will lead to a healthier society, more livable communities, safer cycling options, reduced congestion, and significant savings for our healthcare system. Additionally, Canada's unique landscape is a perfect draw for cycling tourism.

Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, recently announced that Transport Canada and the provinces will establish a task force to discuss safety measures to reduce injuries and fatalities involving cyclists, pedestrians and heavy trucks. Sadly, this was prompted by recent deaths of two female cyclists in Ottawa and Montreal.

The BC Cycling Coalition strongly supports measures to make vehicles and especially trucks safer for people cycling and will be working with the Government and Canada Bikes to help ensure measures are implemented soon.

The task force, established through the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators will explore cameras, sensor systems, side guards, as well as educational safety and awareness programs.

Garneau states, "I'm pleased to work with my provincial, territorial and municipal colleagues to explore options to reduce collisions and improve safety for everyone on Canada's roadways. Whether it's through technology, equipment, or an educational approach, we need to find out what works best in order to improve safety for Canadians."

The task force is not limited in what it can explore, and will examine several potential countermeasures, including cameras, sensor systems, side guards, as well as educational safety and awareness programs focused on identifying risks and safer driver practices.

Heavy trucks, due to their size, present a unique safety risk to vulnerable road users. Research shows that driver visibility is a major cause in fatal collisions involving these groups.

Transport Canada will look at the potential benefits of modern technologies, such as sensors and cameras, to improve the visibility of vulnerable road users around heavy trucks and improve safety for all road users. As part of the study, the department will test these technologies at its motor vehicle test centre. The desired outcome is to identify the most effective solutions for protecting the safety of these individuals. ‎The results of the study will help inform policy, and could lead to federal and/or provincial regulatory measures.

Finance Minister Mike de Jong reports that B.C. is ending the fiscal year with a $730 million surplus. Investing a good portion of the surplus in cycling and walking will increase affordability by enabling people to reduce their transportation costs.

The B.C. economy grew by an estimated three per cent in 2015, more than triple the national average. A massive surge in property transfer tax has left the province’s coffers fuller than expected, and more help could be coming from the province to deal with housing affordability.

Currently in B.C. bicycles and transportation fares are exempt from PST charges, and clean energy vehicles are eligible for rebates up to $5,000. Purchases of new electric bicycles, and their electric parts, are charged PST, and are not eligible for rebates. Something doesn’t seem right here, does it?

For a brief period of time, when B.C. was running the HST tax, electric bikes did, in fact, receive tax exemptions. It seems that in the transition back to the system we currently use, minor details such as taxes on assisted bikes slipped through the cracks.

For small business owners however, this detail feels rather significant. "It's really quite a hassle." Says Paul Dragan of Reckless Bikes. "When repairing an electric bike, we have to charge PST on the electric parts like the battery and motor while there is no PST on the bike parts like wheels and brakes.". Creating two separate lines, and a once unnecessary step to small business’s financial records, is cumbersome and aggravating.

For individuals, the re-added tax could be a barrier to purchasing, or converting to, an e-bike. Electric bikes suitable for commuting typically cost $1500-$3000, making the suggested PST exemption worth about $105 - $210 for buyers, plus on-going PST charges on maintaining parts. Additionally, a rebate would provide financial incentives for individuals to incorporate active transportation into their daily lives.

Electric bikes are being studied by biking centres around the world. The Netherlands, and Norway have measured significant increases in bicycle trip length, and frequency due to use of electric bikes. In 2013, a survey in the Netherlands reported that 5 percent of the total population, and 10 percent of the 60+ population owned an e-bike, and those with electric models ride twice as many kilometers compared to the 60+ cyclists with a regular bike. In 2014, they found that those with e-bikes rode 22% more kilometres per week, and the average commuting distance rose from 6.3 to 9.8 kilometres. Assisted bikes make up 21% of bicycles sales in the Netherlands.

Electric bicycles remove accessibility barriers by allowing riders to conquer hills, speeds, and distances that would otherwise be impossible for some people. These machines, that emit zero carbon, make active transportation a viable option for a broader population, opening it up to all ages and abilities, especially in combination with safe cycling infrastructure.

With B.C.’s aggressive climate targets for 2050, and municipal initiatives to increase active transportation, removing financial barriers to access electric bicycles is logical. Considering that it was not long ago that we actually didn’t pay taxes on these bikes, it is more of an error correction, than a radical request.

The British Columbia Cycling Coalition has submitted a formal request to remove the PST and add rebates, similar to those available for electric cars, as part of their Climate Leadership Action Plan recommendation.

Also included in the recommendations a billion dollars over ten years for bike paths and protected bike lanes as well as improved design standards that can safely accommodate electric bikes and enable longer distance commuting.

Take Action

Please sign andshare the petition and donate to our Billions for Bikes Campaign. Don't be shy- Feel free to share and celebrate the news with fellow bikers at stop lights, or with your barista- social media is not the only way!

Along with lending your voice, monetary support is immensely appreciated. The BC Cycling Coalition's ability to push for change is fueled by generous contributions from folks like yourself. A sincere thank you to those who have already donated.

3. Write the Finance Minister and Your MLA

Please write the Hon. Michael de Jong and your MLA. Let them know what removing the PST on and providing rebates for electric bikes and greatly improved cycling would mean for your family and community.

By entering your email, you consent to receive essential updates critical to making cycling safer for your family & friends from British Columbia Cycling Coalition. We respect your privacy. Your info will not be shared. You may unsubscribe at any time.

By checking Send me email updates, you will receive action updates (1 or 2 per month) critical to making cycling safer for your family & friends from British Columbia Cycling Coalition. The larger our email list, the more likely the Province will improve cycling. You may unsubscribe at any time.